Peace process pretense is legitimate. Police state Israel is the region's only democracy. It's an oasis in a sea of despotism.

It's rap sheet includes horrendous crimes of war, against humanity and genocide. It's a malignancy in a troubled region. It's a threat to humanity.

Zionism is "a machine for the manufacture of human rights abuses," says Joel Kovel. State-terror is official Israeli policy. So is torture. Numerous other abuses are standard practice.

Homemade rockets, small arms and rocks are Palestinians' only defense. Imagine them against the most sophisticated/powerful weapons.

Imagine never knowing when they'll be used. Imagine Israel manufacturing reasons to do so. Imagine the terrible toll it takes. Imagine horrific crimes. Imagine them without accountability.

In its 2013 State of Israel report, Amnesty International (AI) said:

"Israeli forces responsible for the killing and injuring of Palestinian civilians (as well as) torture and other ill-treatment of detainees continued to evade accountability."

"Periodically throughout the year, Israeli military forces carried out air strikes on Gaza..." More on the latest one below.

The IDF "continued to (use) live ammunition to enforce the land and sea 'exclusion zones' inside Gaza's perimeter and territorial waters, killing at least six civilians and injuring others."

"Israeli leaders publicly advocated bombing Iranian nuclear sites."

"The myriad restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities on the movement of Palestinians amounted to collective punishment of the population of Gaza and the West Bank, in violation of international law."

AI condemned Gaza's suffocating siege. It discussed:

• forced West Bank/East Jerusalem evictions and demolitions;

• impunity Israel enjoys;

• acts of aggression like Operation Pillar of Cloud;

• detentions without charges or trials;

• horrific prison conditions;

• torture and other ill-treatment;

• compromised freedoms of expression and assembly;

• oppressing conscientious objectors; and

• denying refugees and asylum-seekers safe havens.

B'Tselem publishes numerous reports on Israeli human rights abuses. A December 31 one discussed a five-year high in Palestinian West Bank fatalities.

B'tselem Director Jessica Montell said:

"The sharp rise in fatalities in the West Bank only serves to intensify concern about the lack of accountability."

Investigations when conducted are whitewashed. Practically no one is ever held accountable. Failure to do so "indicates a disregard for human life," said Montell. Palestinian ones don't matter.

In 2007, B'Tselem published a report titled "Ghost Town: Israel's Separation Policy and Forced Eviction of Palestinians from the Center of Hebron."

It discussed "protracted and severe harm to Palestinians (from) some of the gravest human rights violations."